Indiana Jones' Shoulder Bag

One of the more useful items carried by Indiana Jones was his satchel/shoulder
bag. A "found" item, the bag is a heavy canvas World War II-era
“MkVII” (Mark Seven) British gas mask bag with the original cotton web
strap replaced by a leather strap with a metal adjustment buckle.

Civilian-issued respirator bag.

The MkVII British Gas Mask Bag was issued to British troops and police
forces during WWII as a precaution against a German gas attack (no, not
from eating too much sauerkraut). Civilians were not issued MkVIIs, and
instead had respirators in cardboard boxes around their necks or civilian
duty respirators in drawstring haversacks. The MkVII Gas Mask Bag was a
common site in the British Isles during the war, and you will see it often
in pictures of “The Blitz.” There were many manufacturers of the MkVII,
being produced in Great Britian, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and even
India or the Union of South Africa.

Interestingly enough, this bag actually did not exist at the time the
first three Indiana Jones movies were supposed to take place, given that
manufacturing of the MkVII did not start until 1941. However, the bag did
exist by 1957, the setting of the fourth movie.

What did exist during the first three movies was the MkIV in 1935 and
the MkV by 1936, which are very similar. The bag in the first movie may
have probably been picked up at a surplus store in London. As to which
version of the MkVII was used, Noel Howard from Berman and Nathans stated
“I have no specifics on the bag and strap, we probably found a bag in our
stock at Bermans and Nathans and adjusted it at the fitting.”

The MkVII gas mask bag is Indy’s satchel in all four Indiana Jones movies.
However, during Temple, there was one scene where a MkVI version was used
instead. When Mola Ram and Indy fight over the bag with the Sankara Stones
on the collapsed bridge, the bag that catches fire (with a fake side added)
from Shiva’s “magic” is in fact a MkVI, not a MkVII. You can tell the differences
between the two types of bags in a few of the main details. The MkVI has
a small front D-ring, no lanyard disc, and an extra pocket flap. Even though
the MkVI had three vents on the bottom of the bag and most MkVII's appear
to have two generally, some MkVII bags have been seen with three vents
or only one vent.

These following stills are from the 'fight for the stones' scene
in Temple of Doom.

The above still shows his MkVII with the 2 vents.
The scene then cuts to the effects bag (below), a MkVI with 3 vents.

The stills below show close-ups of the effects bag. Items to take
notice of, the small D-ring on the bag face and the extra "patch" sewn
into the bag for the pyro effects.

There seem to be many different variations of the now famous MkVII bag.
Color varies from mustard yellow (typically the Canadian ones) to an olive
green. There are often different style snaps on the main flap and D-rings
instead of O-rings for the strap attachment. While not a variation, some
bags still have the original divider in the main compartment that separates
the area into a mask part and a filter part, and some have this divider
removed. Most likely, Indy's satchel would not have this divider still
in place as it greatly reduces the storage capability.

In an effort to clarify for the collector, this page includes a list of
known bag variations, together with photos and details which will help
identify them. The list also includes various MkVI models as well. These
are commonly used and also mistaken by collectors.

Positively identified as one of the versions
used in the films.
Designated by initials W&G, 1932 Ltd.
Production years: 1940–1943.
Made respirator haversacks, as well as sundry other military supplies
such as stuffable 'field beds'. W&G made most of their items from linen, rather than canvas.

Photos below courtesy
of Seamus

C. M. Co.

Canadian Motorlamp
Co. Production
years known: 1941.
Bag shown was purchased from Noel Howard.

R.D. & Co.

Company unknown.
Production years known: 1941.

W.E.&S. Ltd.

Whiteley's
Equipment and Supply Ltd. Production years known: 1942.
The
bag was purchased at a local army surplus store in Vancouver BC,
Canada.

Photos courtesy
of Mike Coutts

M. & Co.

Available in khaki.
Company unknown.
Production years known: 1941.

J. & A.H.

Company unknown.
Production years known: 1942.

R.M.A.

Company unknown.
Production years known: 1943.

O.B.C.L.

Company unknown.
Production years known: 1943.

PSC

Company unknown.
Production years known: 1941.

H. & Sons

Company unknown.
Production years known: 1942.

Woods

Company believed to be Canadian.
Production years known: 1941, 1943.

G.M.H. & Co.

General Motors
Holden And Company.
Austrailian Make.
Production years known: 1941.

M.C.& Co.

Mulders Canvas & Co.
Austrailian Make
Mulders is a saddlery and tack shop that is still going strong.
Production years known: 1941–1942.

G. & S. Ltd.

Company unknown.
Production years known: 1941.

Markings Unknown

The Myers Store
for Men.
Austrailian Make.
Also produced respirator bags (a private purchase item, made from
a more linen-like fabric).

Markings Unknown

Louis Epstein
Ltd.
Australian Make.
Used to be a military tailor and it's possible the bags they made were
a private purchase item.

MkVI

Green and tan fabric; two flaps; in some cases,
two brass snap closure; single and triple brass vent hole (underside);
brass 'D' ring strap holders. Many of these are Canadian issue, designated
by the Canadian Ordnance mark (an arrow within a C).

W&G

Designated by initials W&G, 1932
Ltd.
Production years: 1942.

H & Sons

Company unknown
Production years known: 1941.

Woods

Company unknown - Canadian issue (usually
indicated by yellow/mustard coloration).
Single underside drainage hole.
Production years known: 1941.

Indy's bag had its moment to shine in these scenes from The Last
Crusade:

Even though these are an authentic piece of militaria, and supply will
someday run dry, it appears that like “a bad penny,” used and like-new
versions of these bags keep turning up. However, reproduction bags (sans
original style cotton straps) have also started appearing since 2002, and
make for a good replacement bag if you can’t find an original. If properly
weathered, they can appear identical to the appearance of the original
WWII era bags. Also remember that original bags, being from WWII, can sometimes
have a mildew smell and some rust stains on the metal parts (snaps, O-rings,
lanyard, vents, etc), so it’s personal preference if you feel the need
to clean/repair the bag.

As for the replacement strap, the cotton strap was removed and a leather
strap with an adjustment buckle was added. The two ends of the strap can
either be riveted, or for easier replacement, you can use Chicago Screws.
In Raiders, the strap was a medium brown color, similar to his holster’s
color, with a silver buckle in a squared off shape. In the other three
movies, the strap was a very dark brown, almost black in some photos, with
different buckles in all three. The Temple strap had a roller buckle. The
Last Crusade strap also had a roller buckle, but it was bent partway between
the middle and the top of the buckle. The Crystal Skull strap also has
a bent buckle, but the bend is right at the middle of the buckle.

Close-up stills of the strap buckle from each film:

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal
Skull

In the first three movies, Indy typically wears the satchel on top of
the shirt and underneath the jacket. You can remove the jacket and the
satchel is still present. In Crystal Skull, when the jacket is on, it appears
the satchel is worn on the outside of the jacket. This is the first time
Indy has ever worn his satchel on the outside of the jacket in any of the
movies.

This shot reveals a first, Indy wearing his bagstrap over his jacket
in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.